8711 60 – Cycles and motorcycles with electric motor: e-bikes, pedelecs, electric cargo bikes
Subheading 8711 60 covers vehicles propelled by an electric motor: e-bikes and pedelecs, electric cargo bikes and electric tricycles, but also speed pedelecs, e-scooters and electric motorcycles. Two features decide the 8-digit code: whether the vehicle has pedal assistance and the continuous rated power of the motor. Vehicles with pedal assistance up to 250 watts belong to 8711 60 10, all others to 8711 60 90.
- CN description
- Motorcycles (including mopeds) and cycles fitted with an auxiliary motor, with or without side-cars; side-cars – With electric motor for propulsion
- Commodity codes
- 8711 60 108711 60 90 · Status: Combined Nomenclature 2026
The 8-digit commodity codes of subheading 8711 60
In the export declaration you enter the 8-digit code.
| Code | CN description | Product examples |
|---|---|---|
| 8711 60 10 | Bicycles, tricycles and quadricycles, with pedal assistance, with an auxiliary electric motor with a continuous rated power not exceeding 250 watts |
|
| 8711 60 90 | Other (other than 8711 60 10) |
|
The product examples show which goods typically fall under the code. They are not goods descriptions checked by customs.
How to describe the goods in the export declaration
The goods description states the usual trade name of the goods and is precise enough for an unambiguous classification. Brand names and collective terms alone are not enough.
Include these details in the description:
- Type of vehicle: bicycle, tricycle, quadricycle, cargo bike, kick scooter or motorcycle.
- Pedal assistance: does the motor only assist while pedalling, or does the vehicle also run without pedalling?
- Continuous rated power of the motor in watts, not the peak power. Pedal assistance and no more than 250 W means 8711 60 10, everything else 8711 60 90.
- Battery: supplied or not, cell type (e.g. lithium-ion) and capacity in Wh.
- Condition and form of delivery: new or used, fully assembled or disassembled.
Example wording
“E-bike (pedelec) [BRAND] [MODEL], bicycle with pedal assistance, auxiliary electric motor with 250 W continuous rated power, lithium-ion battery supplied, new”
Example for guidance, not a commitment by customs.
Too vague
“E-bike”
It states neither whether the vehicle has pedal assistance nor its continuous rated power. Whether 8711 60 10 or 8711 60 90 applies remains open.
Not covered by 8711 60
- 8712
Bicycles and delivery tricycles without a motor do not belong to 8711 but to heading 8712.
CN: Bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorised
- 8507 60
A lithium-ion battery exported on its own is an accumulator of subheading 8507 60.
CN: Electric accumulators, including separators therefor, whether or not rectangular (including square) – Lithium-ion
- 8714
Parts and accessories exported separately, such as frames, rims or saddles, belong to heading 8714.
CN: Parts and accessories of vehicles of headings 8711 to 8713
- 8713 90
Motorised wheelchairs and other carriages for disabled persons are classified in subheading 8713 90.
CN: Carriages for disabled persons, whether or not motorised or otherwise mechanically propelled – Other
What to watch out for when exporting e-bikes
- Export declaration from €1,000: If the goods value and transport costs together exceed €1,000 or the consignment weighs more than 1,000 kg, you need an export declaration to export to a country outside the EU. Whether this applies to your shipment is shown by the check Do I need an ABD?
- Lithium battery as dangerous goods: Vehicles with a built-in lithium battery count as dangerous goods in transport (UN 3171). This affects packaging and transport documents, not the commodity code. Clarify the requirements with your forwarder before shipping.
- Exit notification as evidence: After export you receive the exit notification. It is the evidence for the VAT-exempt export supply. Without it, the tax office can demand the VAT retrospectively.
Frequently asked questions about commodity code 8711 60
What is the commodity code for an e-bike?
An e-bike with pedal assistance (pedelec) whose motor has a continuous rated power of no more than 250 watts belongs to commodity code 8711 60 10. The same applies to electric cargo bikes and electric tricycles with pedal assistance up to 250 watts. Speed pedelecs with a stronger motor fall under 8711 60 90.
Do I need an export declaration to send an e-bike to Switzerland?
Yes, if the goods value and transport costs together exceed €1,000 or the consignment weighs more than 1,000 kg. Below that, an oral declaration is often sufficient. Parcel carriers often require an ABD from a goods value of €750. Check this with your carrier before shipping.
What is the commodity code for an e-scooter?
E-scooters and electric kick scooters have no pedal assistance. They therefore do not belong to 8711 60 10 but to commodity code 8711 60 90. This code also covers electric motorcycles and speed pedelecs whose motor has a continuous rated power above 250 watts.
What is the commodity code for an e-bike battery shipped on its own?
A lithium-ion battery exported on its own does not belong to heading 8711 but to the accumulators of subheading 8507 60. If the battery is supplied together with the e-bike, the commodity code of the e-bike applies.
Other codes in 8711 and chapter 87
- 8711 10With internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity not exceeding 50 cm³
- 8711 20With internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cm³ but not exceeding 250 cm³
- 8711 30With internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity exceeding 250 cm³ but not exceeding 500 cm³
- 8711 40With internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity exceeding 500 cm³ but not exceeding 800 cm³
- 8711 50With internal combustion piston engine of a cylinder capacity exceeding 800 cm³
- 8711 90Other
- 8712Bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorised
All information without guarantee and without binding tariff information. Your details are checked when you create the export declaration in our application.